Taking the fear out of plastic surgery

Here are four factors that can help take the fear out of having plastic surgery:

1. Information is power.

The popular quote “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” is very applicable for patients considering plastic surgery today. In the past many people have opted to avoid plastic surgery procedures even when they really wanted them. Now with the vast amount of information available on the internet, patients can find reassuring statistics about the safety of these procedures, especially when done by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

And while, like any subject, there is misinformation about plastic surgery online, there are many very reputable websites that offer extremely credible, legitimate information. Two sites that are highly recommended are: the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Both of these sites are tremendous resources for patients thinking of having plastic surgery.

2. Decisions, decisions.

Every day people make decisions that they are not afraid to make; what to order from the menu, what to wear to work, what movie to watch. Most of these are not complicated. Choosing a plastic surgeon is obviously more complicated and important than many of these day-to-day decisions. A great way to start is making sure the surgeon is an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, like the surgeons at Edina Plastic Surgery.

During the initial consultation, the plastic surgeon will answer any questions and explain the procedure, the recovery time and talk to the patient about the results. The surgeon’s knowledge and expertise can be of tremendous help to patients in the decision-making process.

3. Natural results are the best results.

A good board-certified plastic surgeon has an excellent sense of aesthetics and the ability to provide results that look beautiful and natural. Patients often express their fears that they will look “done”. But a talented surgeon will carefully listen to each patient’s goals. They will discuss the patient’s expectations and make sure that they are realistic. The surgeon’s goal is to enhance natural beauty, not to change a patient into someone who is unrecognizable.

“At Edina Plastic Surgery, we strive to get the best results possible for our patients, while maintaining a very natural appearance,” says Dr. Robert Wilke, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery. “An important part of that is to determine the patient’s goals during the consultation, making sure they are realistic and achievable.”

4. The time commitment is not as extensive as most patients may think.

Everyone in today’s world is pressed for time. Pressures from work and family take their toll on the daily schedule. Some patients say that even though they really want to have a procedure, they are afraid they can’t “make the time” necessary to have the procedure and for recovery.

After an initial consult with a plastic surgeon, many of these same patients are surprised that the recovery time is much shorter than they expected. The vast majority of the top procedures do not require an overnight stay and many patients can be back to work (with certain limitations) in a matter of days. And when they consider that the improvement that they are seeking is something that can improve the quality of their life, they realize that the minimal amount of time necessary to devote to recovery is well worth it in the long run.

“I have had many patients tell me that they were worried about the time commitment that surgery and recovery represent,” says Dr. Robert Wilke. “I discuss the recovery time with each patient in regards to the procedure they are interested in. After their procedure at their post-op visits, the vast majority of patients tell me that they feel the results of the procedure were well worth the time needed for recovery.”